Volunteers needed across Maritimes for annual poppy campaign
Canada's annual poppy campaign begins Friday, but Maritime Royal Canadian Legion branches are having a challenge finding volunteers.
As was the case in 2020, volunteer numbers for the fundraiser have started out slow across the region.
John Stone, acting president of Somme Legion Branch 31 in Dartmouth, says he's still receiving confirmation from local businesses about whether or not campaign volunteers will be allowed inside certain premises.
"Some of the places that we go, I'm only finding out today that we're actually allowed in (with) the poppies," says Stone.
Last year, some businesses and facilities made the decision to pause participation in the poppy campaign citing COVID-19 concerns.
Harold Wright, president of the Jervis Bay Memorial Legion Branch 53 in Saint John, N.B., says volunteers are critical to the campaign's success.
"There are a lot of things that go on behind the scenes before we even start," says Wright. "Getting the trays ready, getting all the poppies ready, bagged, counted."
Both Stone and Wright say the campaign will gladly accept offers to help, with anybody asked to contact their local Legion branch.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.